December--Tie

by Anonymous (Prism of Poetry pg. 65)

.....IT USED TO BE
.....THE GUY WHO
.......WORE THE
..........TIE
........BUT NOW
.......GIRLS BUY
.......TIES, NOT
.....JUST FOR GUYS
....FOR THEMSELVES
...THEY BUY TIES WITH
..POLKA DOTS,TIES WITH
SPOTS, TIES WITH POP ART
..TIES WITH WORDS ON
...THEM, TIES WITH A
....BIRTHSTONE,TIES
.....WITH PICTURES,
......STRIPES AND
........CHECKS.
.........TIES


This poem uses ties to talk about gender equality. It is a shape poem, which is also called a calligram. The periods used before the words are not a part of the poem. When they are spaces instead of periods, the tie-shape of the poem cannot be shown. I chose this poem because I have a bit of a tie-hobby. Every December, there are winter concerts. Every December, I find differently shaped and coloured ties to wear at the winter concerts. I like that the ties that I may or may not wear and the message of this poem are the same: equality means that girls can wear ties, they are not just for guys. The poem comments on how times have changed and that many old-fashioned or traditional ideas are being swept away by modern ideas and more freedoms. I think that discrimination is a big issue that is still being dealt with, and that this poem expresses some of the triumph that I feel towards the women of today.